[Federal Register: July 29, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 145)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 45298-45300]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29jy04-24]
[[Page 45298]]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
33 CFR Part 334
RIN 0710-AA57
United States Marine Corps Restricted Area and Danger Zone,
Brickyard Creek and Tributaries, and the Broad River, Marine Corps Air
Station, Beaufort, SC
AGENCY: United States Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Corps of Engineers is proposing regulations to establish a
restricted area and one danger zone in Brickyard Creek (including a
portion of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway), Mulligan Creek,
Albergottie Creek and Salt Creek in the vicinity of the Marine Corps
Air Station (MCAS) in Beaufort, South Carolina. The MCAS restricted
area will contain six sections that are contiguous to Brickyard,
Albergottie and Salt Creeks, and two sections that are located on the
northern border of the MCAS that encompasses Mulligan Creek. In
addition, the proposed regulations will establish a restricted area in
the Broad River in the vicinity of Laurel Bay Military Family Housing
Area, which is associated with the Marine Corps Air Station. The
purpose of these regulations is to provide effective security in the
vicinity of the Marine Corps Air Station and the Laurel Bay Military
Family Housing Area and to protect the public from the hazards of small
arms fire within the Danger Zone.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 30, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: CECW-O
441 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20314-1000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Frank Torbett, Headquarters, U.S
Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC, at (202) 761-7610, or Mr. Dean
Herndon, Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, at (843) 329-8044.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to its authorities in section 7 of
the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1917 (40 Stat 266; 33 U.S.C. 1) and
chapter XIX, of the Army Appropriations Act of 1919 (40 Stat 892; 33
U.S.C. 3) the Corps proposes to amend the restricted area regulations
at 33 CFR 334 by adding Section 334.475, which would establish a
restricted area (including eight sections) and one danger zone in the
vicinity of the Marine Corps Air Station and one restricted area in the
vicinity of the Laurel Bay Military Family Housing Area in Beaufort,
South Carolina. The sections of the restricted area are described in
detail in the regulation below and identified as (a)(1) through (a)(9).
The proposed danger zone will encompass an area to be used as a firing
range for small arms and is listed as (a)(10). The public currently has
unrestricted access to navigable waters adjacent to the Marine Corps
Air Station and the Laurel Bay Military Family Housing Area. The
Commander, Marine Corps Air Bases, Eastern Area is seeking
authorization from the Corps of Engineers to establish restricted areas
in waters of the United States adjacent to the Marine Corps Air Station
and Laurel Bay Military Family Housing Area in Beaufort, South
Carolina. The District Engineer's preliminary review indicates that
this request is not contrary to the public interest.
Procedural Requirements
a. Review Under Executive Order 12866
This proposed rule is issued with respect to a military function of
the Defense Department and the provisions of Executive Order 12866 do
not apply.
b. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act
These proposed rules have been reviewed under the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (Pub. L. 96-354), which requires the preparation of a
regulatory flexibility analysis for any regulation that will have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities
(i.e., small businesses and small Governments). The Corps expects that
the economic impact of the establishment of this restricted area would
have practically no impact on the public, no anticipated navigational
hazard or interference with existing waterway traffic and accordingly,
certifies that this proposal if adopted, will have no significant
economic impact on small entities.
c. Review Under the National Environmental Policy Act
An environmental assessment has been prepared for this action. We
have concluded, based on the minor nature of the proposed additional
restricted area regulations, that this action, if adopted, will not
have a significant impact to the quality of the human environment, and
preparation of an environmental impact statement is not required. The
environmental assessment may be reviewed at the District office listed
at the end of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, above.
d. Unfunded Mandates Act
This proposed rule does not impose an enforceable duty among the
private sector and, therefore, is not a Federal private sector mandate
and is not subject to the requirements of section 202 or 205 of the
Unfunded Mandates Act. We have also found under section 203 of the Act,
that small Governments will not be significantly and uniquely affected
by this rulemaking.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 334
Danger zones, Marine safety, Restricted areas, Waterways.
For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Corps of Engineers
proposes to amend 33 CFR part 334 as follows:
PART 334--DANGER ZONES AND RESTRICTED AREA REGULATIONS
1. The authority citation for part 334 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 40 Stat. 266; (33 U.S.C. 1) and 40 Stat. 892; (33
U.S.C. 3).
2. Section 334.475 would be added to read as follows:
Sec. 334.475 Brickyard Creek and tributaries and the Broad River at
Beaufort, SC.
(a) The areas: (1) That section of the Atlantic Intracoastal
Waterway (AIWW), beginning at the confluence of the AIWW and
Albergottie Creek, being that point on the west side of the AIWW
navigational channel at latitude (lat) 32.457226[deg], longitude (long)
80.687770[deg], thence continuing in a northerly direction along the
western channel edge of the AIWW to lat. 32.458580[deg], long.
80.689181[deg], thence to lat. 32.460413[deg], long. 80.689228[deg],
thence to lat. 32.461459[deg], long. 80.689418[deg], thence to lat.
32.464015[deg], long. 80.690294[deg], thence to lat. 32.470255[deg],
long. 80.690965[deg], thence to lat. 32.471309[deg], long.
80.691196[deg], thence to lat. 32.475084[deg], long. 80.692455[deg],
thence to lat. 32.478161[deg], long. 80.691546[deg], thence to lat.
32.479191[deg], long. 80.691486[deg], thence to lat. 32.481817[deg],
long. 80.691939[deg], thence to lat. 32.493001[deg], long.
80.689835[deg], thence to lat. 32.494422[deg], long. 80.688296[deg],
thence to lat. 32.49727[deg], long. 80.69172[deg] on the east shore of
the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS), at its intersection with the
Station's property boundary line, thence heading south along the
eastern shoreline of the MCAS to a point along the northern shoreline
of Mulligan Creek at lat. 32.48993[deg], long. 80.69836[deg], thence
southwesterly across Mulligan
[[Page 45299]]
Creek to the shoreline of the MCAS, lat. 32.48771[deg], long.
80.70424[deg], thence continuing along the eastern shoreline to its
intersection with Albergottie Creek, lat. 32.45360[deg], long.
80.70128, thence continuing along the southern shoreline of the MCAS to
the intersection of Salt Creek with U.S. Highway 21, lat.
32.45047[deg], long. 80.73153[deg], thence back down the southern creek
edge of Salt and Albergottie Creeks, thence back to the starting point
at the confluence of Albergottie Creek and the AIWW, lat.
32.457226[deg], long. 80.687770[deg]. Note: Situated within the
boundaries of the area described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section
are the areas described in paragraphs (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(4), (a)(5)
and the danger zone described in paragraph (a)(10) of this section.
Since additional regulations apply to these sections, they are excluded
from the area described in paragraph (a)(1) given that they are more
strictly regulated.
(2) That portion of Mulligan Creek located on the southern side of
the MCAS runway, beginning at a point on the eastern shoreline of
Mulligan Creek at lat. 32.48993[deg], long. 80.69836[deg], thence
southwesterly across Mulligan Creek to the shoreline of the MCAS, lat.
32.48771[deg], long. 80.70424[deg], thence continuing in a northerly
direction along the eastern shoreline of the MCAS, thence in a
northeasterly direction along the southern side of the MCAS runway,
thence back down the eastern shoreline of Mulligan Creek to its
starting point, lat. 32.48993[deg], long. 80.69836[deg].
(3) That area adjacent to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway
(AIWW), situated within the boundaries of the area described in
paragraph (a)(1) of this section, beginning at a point on the west side
of the AIWW navigational channel at lat. 32.463732[deg], long.
80.690208[deg], thence continuing in a northerly direction along the
western channel edge of the AIWW to lat. 32.467999[deg], long.
80.690749[deg], thence turning in a westerly direction and continuing
to lat. 32.467834[deg], long. 80.700080[deg], on the eastern shore of
the MCAS, thence heading in a southward direction along the shoreline
to lat. 32.463692[deg], long. 80.698440[deg], thence turning in a
westerly direction and returning back to the starting point on the west
edge of the AIWW channel, lat. 32.463732[deg], long. 80.690208[deg].
(4) That area contiguous to Albergottie Creek, situated within the
boundaries of the area described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section,
beginning at a point on the southern shoreline of the MCAS at lat.
32.452376[deg], long. 80.708263[deg], thence continuing in a northerly
direction along the shoreline, up to the shoreline adjacent to Kimes
Avenue and back down the opposite shoreline in a southerly direction to
a point at lat. 32.450643[deg], long. 80.715653[deg], thence turning in
an easterly direction and returning back to the starting point at lat.
32.452376[deg], long. 80.708263[deg].
(5) That area contiguous to Salt Creek, situated within the
boundaries of the area described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section,
beginning at a point on the southern shoreline of the MCAS and the edge
of Salt Creek at lat. 32.45194[deg], long. 80.724473[deg], thence
continuing in a northerly direction along the shoreline of the MCAS and
continuing on to its intersection again with Salt Creek and adjacent to
U.S. Highway 21, thence turning and continuing along the shoreline of
Salt Creek in an easterly direction and returning back to the starting
point at lat. 32.45194[deg], long. 80.724473[deg].
(6) That section of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW),
beginning at the confluence of the AIWW and Albergottie Creek, being
that point on the west side of the AIWW navigational channel at
latitude (lat) 32.457226[deg], longitude (long) 80.687770[deg], thence
continuing in a northerly direction along the western channel edge of
the AIWW to lat. 32.458580[deg], long. 80.689181[deg], thence to lat.
32.460413[deg], long. 80.689228[deg], thence to lat. 32.461459[deg],
long. 80.689418[deg], thence to lat. 32.464015[deg], long.
80.690294[deg], thence to lat. 32.470255[deg], long. 80.690965[deg],
thence to lat. 32.471309[deg], long. 80.691196[deg], thence to lat.
32.475084[deg], long. 80.692455[deg], thence to lat. 32.478161[deg],
long. 80.691546[deg], thence to lat. 32.479191[deg], long.
80.691486[deg], thence to lat. 32.481817[deg], long. 80.691939[deg],
thence to lat. 32.493001[deg], long. 80.689835[deg], thence to lat.
32.494422[deg], long. 80.688296[deg], thence crossing the AIWW channel
in a southeasterly direction to a point on the east side of the AIWW
and the marsh edge of bank, lat. 32.49343[deg], long. 80.68699[deg],
thence southward along the edge of the AIWW and the waterward marsh
edge of Ladies Island to a point on the west shoreline of Pleasant
Point Peninsular, lat. 32.45806[deg], long. 80.68668[deg], thence back
across the AIWW navigational channel to the point of beginning, lat.
32.457226[deg], long. 80.687770[deg].
(7) That portion of Mulligan Creek, beginning at its northern mouth
and confluence with McCalleys Creek, lat. 32.50763[deg], long.
80.69337[deg], thence proceeding in a westerly direction along the
northern shoreline of Mulligan Creek to its intersection with
Perryclear Drive bridge crossing, lat. 32.50534[deg], long.
80.69960[deg], thence back down the southern shoreline to its starting
point at McCalleys Creek, lat. 32.50763[deg], long. 80.69337[deg].
(8) That portion of Mulligan Creek, beginning at the Perryclear
Drive bridge crossing, lat. 32.50534[deg], long. 80.69960[deg], thence
proceeding in a southwesterly direction along the northern shoreline of
Mulligan Creek to the terminus of its western tributary, thence back
down its southern shoreline to the terminus of its eastern terminus
located at the northern end on the MCAS runway, lat. 32.49531[deg],
long. 80.70658[deg], thence back down the southern shoreline to its
starting point at Perryclear Drive bridge crossing, lat. 32.50534[deg],
long. 80.69960[deg].
(9) (Laurel Bay Military Family Housing Area) That section of the
Broad River, beginning on the western shoreline of Laurel Bay Military
Family Housing Area boundary line, at lat. 32.449295[deg], long.
80.803205[deg], thence proceeding in a northerly direction along the
shoreline to the housing area northern boundary line at lat.
32.471172[deg], long. 80.809795[deg], thence proceeding a distance of
500' into the Broad River, lat. 32.471185[deg], long. 80.811440[deg],
thence proceeding in a southerly direction and maintaining a distance
of 500' from the shoreline to lat. 32.449222[deg], long.
80.804825[deg], thence back towards the shoreline to the point of
beginning at lat. 32.449295[deg], long. 80.803205[deg].
(10) (Danger zone). That portion of Mulligan Creek located adjacent
to the MCAS firing range and the restricted area described in paragraph
(a)(4) of this section, beginning at a point on the western shoreline
of Mulligan Creek at lat. 32.48771[deg], long. 80.70424[deg], thence
northeasterly across Mulligan Creek to the opposite shoreline at lat.
32.48993[deg], long. 80.69836[deg], thence continuing in a
southeasterly direction to an upland island bordering the northern
shoreline of Mulligan Creek at lat. 32.48579[deg], long. 80.69706[deg],
thence turning in a southwesterly direction and crossing Mulligan Creek
to a point on the eastern shoreline of the MCAS at lat. 32.48533[deg],
long. 80.70240[deg], thence continuing along the eastern shoreline of
the MCAS to its starting point at lat. 32.48771[deg], long.
80.70424[deg].
(b) The Regulation: (1) Unauthorized personnel, vessels and other
watercraft shall not enter the restricted areas described in paragraphs
(a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(4), (a)(5) and (a)(8) of this section at any time.
(2) The public shall have unrestricted access and use of the waters
described in paragraph (a)(6) of this section whenever the MCAS is in
Force Protection Condition Normal, Alpha or
[[Page 45300]]
Bravo. Whenever the facility is in Force Protection Condition Charlie
or Delta, personnel, vessels and other watercraft entering the
restricted area described in paragraph (a)(6) of this section shall
proceed at normal speed and shall under no circumstances anchor, fish,
loiter or photograph in any way until clear of the restricted area.
(3) The public shall have unrestricted access and use of the waters
described in paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(7) and (a)(9) of this section
whenever the MCAS is in Force Protection Condition Normal Alpha or
Bravo. Whenever the facility is in Force Protection Condition Charlie
or Delta, personnel, vessels and other watercraft are prohibited from
entering the waters described in paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(7) and (a)(9)
of this section, unless they first obtain an escort or other approval
from the Commander, MCAS, Beaufort, South Carolina.
(4) Unauthorized personnel, vessels and other watercraft shall not
enter the danger zone described in paragraph (a)(10) of this section at
any time.
(5) All restricted areas and danger zones will be marked with
suitable warning signs.
(6) It is understood that none of the restrictions herein will
apply to properly marked Federal vessels performing official duties.
(7) It is further understood that unauthorized personnel will not
take photographs from within the above described restricted areas.
(c) Enforcement: The regulation in this section, promulgated by the
United States Army Corps of Engineers, shall be enforced by the
Commanding Officer, MCAS Beaufort, or persons or agencies as he/she may
authorize including any Federal Agency, State, Local or County Law
Enforcement agency, or Private Security Firm in the employment of the
facility, so long as the entity undertaking to enforce this Restricted
Area has the legal authority to do so under the appropriate Federal,
State or local laws.
Dated: June 29, 2004.
Michael B. White,
Chief, Operations, Directorate of Civil Works.
[FR Doc. 04-16923 Filed 7-28-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-92-P